Idris Elba joins Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim

We've heard whispers about this for a while now, but as of today, it's official. Idris Elba is joining Guillermo Del Toro's PACIFIC RIM.

Elba has become attached an increasingly high profile of projects since most of us met him as Stringer Bell on The Wire. He was recently in THOR, and is currently filming PROMETHEUS with Ridley Scott. He was said to be in talks with Tarantino for the lead in DJANGO UNCHAINED, but departed once Will Smith started being considered. That didn't seem to pan out either, and now that project is said to be looking to Jamie Foxx for the part.

PACIFIC RIM is in fact a leading role for Elba, as he'll be playing a character named "Sensi" in the film. Not much is known about the project other than the intriguing logline:

"Set in a future in which malevolent creatures threaten the earth, the planet must band together and use highly advanced technology to eradicate the growing menace."

The only other confirmed cast member at this point is Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam, and he and Elba's characters are said to have to pilot some sort of advanced mechs to fight the creatures. Sounds awesome to me.

Extra Tidbit:

Most people don't or didn't know that Elba is actually British because of how well he can fake an American accent.